Exercise may prevent Alzheimer's

EATING a balanced diet, exercising and keeping trim can not only reduce the risk of developing heart disease, but may also protect against Alzheimer's disease, according to researchers.

The research is being presented to 4,000 scientists this week at a six-day conference in Stockholm, the largest meeting dedicated to the disease to-date. While doctors remain unsure about the cause of Alzheimer’s, both genetic and

environmental influences are thought to play a part. Now researchers also believe certain risk factors, which are known to cause heart disease, are also linked to the neurological condition. Scientists claim that lack of exercise, excess weight, high cholesterol and blood pressure can all increase the risk of developing the disease. Even diabetes appears to have an effect.